Richards, who served as the Flyers’ captain for the past three years, is 26 years old. He is signed through the 2019-20 NHL season after inking a 12-year contract with Philadelphia in December of 2007. Richards is a two-time 30-goal scorer who has averaged 28 goals, 42 assists and 70 points over the last four seasons while playing in an average of 78 regular season games per year. He has also during that time played in 57 total playoff games while helping lead Philadelphia to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010. During that playoff run he recorded 23 points in 23 playoff games.

Said Lombardi: “We felt at this stage of the franchise it was time to make a significant move for an impact player. Mike Richards is not only one of the top players in the league, he’s also universally recognized as one of the finer leaders in the game and one of its elite competitors. Additionally, given that he’s only 26-years-old and he’s on a long-term contract, he fits our plan now and for the long-term future.”

Comments

To be honest I thought Richards would go before Carter, but both of them on the same day? I didn’t think that a poor finish to a dominant regular season for this team meant a retooling of the team. What the hell is going on in Philly today..

Posted by
Liam
on 06/23/11 at 05:07 PM ET

I thought “Trader” Jack McKeon went back to the Marlins. I had no idea he’d taken over the Flyers.

- Briere/ClownHair/Leino had arguably the best line in the playoffs last year.
- Briere is being paid top dollar and has been a second line center.
- Giroux is a fantastic player.
- Lots of whacky off-ice stuff went down in that lockerroom.
- Both Carter and Richards were signed until 2040.

All of that and the Versteeg situation ain’t over with yet. This is nuts.

Sure they just unloaded quite the salary, but they just lost a third of their offense. Lieno has yet to prove he can provide consistently through a season and produce in the playoffs. I take back what I said about Philly being able to sign Voracek; they have to now, they need his 50 points.

What the hell?

Cue the circus music….

Indeed.

Posted by
mrfluffy
from A wide spot on I-90 in Montana on 06/23/11 at 05:22 PM ET

yeah, I think this is a locker-room thing, not a on-ice thing.

It’s not like Philly wont be able to replace what those two guys provided for them and at least might not have the distraction issue anymore either. Richards I heard was starting to have locker-room issues and it lets them offer players like Leino who did exceptionally well for them in the playoffs, contracts. All in all Philly still looks good and they at least have confidence in their goaltender now.. for now..

Shades of the old Tampa Bay Lightning. Jake Voracek went from a bad Columbus team to a poor Philadelphia team.

Posted by
BK
on 06/23/11 at 05:26 PM ET

So long as Bryzgalov isn’t facing the Wings, his performance in the playoffs has been pretty solid.

Vs other teams in the playoffs:

9-5, 1.85 GAA, .937 Sv%

Agains the Wings in the playoffs:

3-8, 3.73 GAA, .896 Sv%

I find these back-to-back trades a bit odd for a couple of reasons.

1. Successful teams tend to build down the middle and Philly just shipped off their top two cetnermen. I have no doubts that Schenn will be a very good player at some point in his career, but he’ll be a rookie this year. It’s not like Philly doesn’t have some decent centers, but they are much weaker at that position now than they were a few minutes ago.

2. With an ageing defense corps and a middle-aged Bryzgalov it seems sort of odd to switch gears and start going with some sort of youth movement up front with Schenn, Voracek and Simmonds.

I absolutely guarantee it’s a locker room thing. There were mentions of a disconnect between Richards and Laviolette. To me, this proves the disconnect was huge and irreparable. Also, Richards has a no-movement clause that kicks in either this summer or next, so it was now or never on him I think. I’m really excited they got a couple draft picks for this years draft and got some young players back as well as cap space. I know a lot of fans are going WTF, but, in two moves, we’ve freed up $11 million of cap space plus the $5 million the cap was going up to sign players, including a goalie who should be good with a defense and lightened workload around him now.

Paul Holmgren has to be aware that Philadelphia now lacks a top-line center.

They also now have cap space to go after Brad Richards…

Not really. Even after they demote Leighton and place Laperrierre on LTIR, they’ll have less than $16 million to sign eight players. If Bryzgalov gets just $5 million and Voracek gets $2.5 million, they would have $8.5 million for six players. They have to get Bryzgalov signed prior to July 1; otherwise we may see Vancouver-esque riots in Philadelphia.

While I wouldn’t put it past them, and they may not yet be done moving players, I am not sure if Philly really is in a position to sign Richards. If rumors about Bryzgalov’s asking price - $7 million a year - are accurate, that’s going to eat up a lot of the freed up cap space and Philly still needs to re-sign Leino and work out deals with Voracek and Simmonds.

Not sure if Richards will play on the same line as Brown, but that could be nasty. In two years this trade should be reevaluated. The Kings are really close to getting over the 1st round hurdle, and I’m curious to see Schenn in the Show.

Call me crazy, but I’m beginning to believe that Holmgren pulled off a coup today.

-102m and 20 years of contracts off their books.
-Giroux will become a more prominent leader on and off ice.
-Briere’s contract makes sense from a responsiblity standpoint.
-Voracek can and will be good (potentially really good).
-They have comfortably signed their goalie of the future (something they haven’t had in decades).
-Leino will be back.
-They have two first round and two second round picks this weekend to use as bait.
-They can trade Versteeg to Florida for a pick or two over the next few years.

My first reaction to the Richards trade was total shock, but upon further review, many regard Brayden Schenn as the #1 prospect in the game. Richards only scored 23 goals this year and he has a really lengthy contract. Maybe Philly thinks Schenn is ready to step in and contribute 20-25 goals right away, which would not be a totally unreasonable protection. Plus, he’s obviously younger and cheaper.

The Bryzgalov contract is nuts IMO, but whatever.

And I hope Jeff Carter enjoys being less recognizable in Columbus than Ohio State’s third-string punter.

They’ll get another body or two inked, that is a solid team still able to compete right now when you add in the defense and the goaltending.

Never thought I’d say that after Richards and Carter got moved two hours ago. Throw in the draft picks for this weekend and they’re gonna be a lot of fun to follow, I’m semi-jealous of Flyer fans this week.

Paul Holmgren has to be aware that Philadelphia now lacks a top-line center.

They also now have cap space to go after Brad Richards…

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 06/23/11 at 04:35 PM ET

I think you nailed it. Trading Carter is one thing, but Richards was the head of the snake, and probably their best overall forward. With all due respect to Briere’s numbers, all he really does is wait in scoring position while his linemates do the hard work (what great hands, though). Giroux and JVR are both too young and unproven to pencil in as 80 point players indefinitely.

Off the ice, makes sense that Richards had to go (team can’t fire the Philly media). But on the ice, there’s not really anyone to plug all the holes his absence creates.

Add Brad Richards, though, and that’s an upgrade everywhere but PK…

Posted by
steviesteve
on 06/23/11 at 06:58 PM ET

Giroux will be, JVR is still searching for consistency but he’s a big hometown boy.

Funny how you view Briere, I remember watching him thinking I can’t believe that little shit goes to the net as hard as he does. Guys compete level is top notch

Giroux will be, JVR is still searching for consistency but he’s a big hometown boy.

Funny how you view Briere, I remember watching him thinking I can’t believe that little shit goes to the net as hard as he does. Guys compete level is top notch

Around the net he’s gold. His blood is made of ice. Watch him on the cycle, on dump ins, in the neutral zone or in his own end, though, and you’ll see what I mean. If there’s no on-going scoring chance or hole he can jump into, Briere’s a complete spectator.